Anxiety can be service-connected. The connection has to be documented.
A psychiatrist-written medical opinion explaining whether your anxiety is directly related to service, or secondary to PTSD, chronic pain, tinnitus, TBI, or another service-connected condition.
This page is for U.S. veterans and service members pursuing a VA disability claim for an anxiety disorder. Brightview Psychiatry Solutions provides medical opinions only — we do not diagnose, prescribe, treat, file VA claims, or provide legal representation. If you need treatment, please contact the VA or your primary care provider.
Direct service connection
Anxiety that began in service — tied to a specific stressor, deployment, training event, or in-service diagnosis — can be claimed as a direct service connection.
Secondary service connection
Anxiety caused or aggravated by an already service-connected condition — PTSD, chronic pain, tinnitus, TBI, sleep apnea, or medication side effects — can be claimed under 38 CFR 3.310.
What An Anxiety Claim Needs
Three things the VA is looking for
- 1
A current diagnosis
Documented anxiety diagnosis (GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, etc.) supported by clinical evaluation.
- 2
A service connection pathway
Either evidence of onset in service or a service-connected condition that caused or worsened your anxiety.
- 3
A nexus opinion
A physician's medical opinion stating that the anxiety is at least as likely as not linked to service or the primary condition.
What A Strong Letter Includes
What Dr. Allen puts in an anxiety nexus letter
- A clear diagnostic statement with DSM-5 criteria applied to your history
- Review of service treatment records, VA records, and private treatment
- Discussion of causation vs. aggravation with medical reasoning
- Reference to peer-reviewed literature where relevant
- Explanation of functional impairment for rating purposes
Ask whether your anxiety claim is ready for a nexus letter
Free consultation with Dr. Allen — a psychiatrist and former VA C&P examiner.
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Related conditions
Anxiety often overlaps with sleep and trauma-related conditions. These are the related pathways Brightview documents most often.
- Read the pathway →
Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD
When PTSD-driven arousal and sleep fragmentation contribute to obstructive sleep apnea.
- Read the pathway →
Sleep Apnea Nexus Letters
Direct, secondary, and aggravation pathways to obstructive sleep apnea.
- Read the pathway →
PTSD & MST Nexus Letters
Combat, non-combat, and Military Sexual Trauma pathways written by a former VA C&P examiner.